Thursday, January 29, 2015

"The Pocket S & W 460XVR"

I was asked to consider carving this gun actual size. However, as you get to know me, I enjoy "developing" a carving to personalize it for the recipient. I add or tweak something to make the gift a little bit more special. In the case of the S & W 460XVR it's very large and looks like something "Dirty Harry" would carry around. I wanted this piece to be unique. I went small. Even though I found it frustrating trying to get a piece of wood to look like a highly machined majestic object, its final dimensions make the piece "cool!"

The Planning stage.
Lets try to make this beast "BIG" for its size. I selected a 1/4"=1" ratio.
The "roughing out" stage


 
  Now to tediously work the piece down with a Mastercarver rotary tool.

 
Fine grit burrs will be used to slowly reduce the piece down to size.
 A knife is used to remove most of the rounded edges.
 
 
 
Fine sandpaper was used to reduce the barrel and provide a "machined" appearance overall.
 
 
 The mount for the pistol is roughly carved out to make it look "rustic." I also wanted the owner to be able to remove the gun. The gun "sits" partially in the carved out shape at an angle rather than a snug fit in the cut-out. 
The mounting base is roughed out and a friend suggested "you made a nice rock." That stuck in my head. I applied a grey acrylic paint wash to the "rock."
 
The "rock" base is glued and screwed to the base as well.
 
The gun is almost chrome like in appearance. I decided to try spray painting the body of the pistol with bright silver spray paint. It worked out much better than I anticipated.
 
The black rear site and handle will be masked off.


 
 The letters/numbers were relief carved.

 
 
Below is the finished pistol and the template I tried to stay close to for an accurate ratio of 1/4" to 1" but as you can see the piece is larger than the template.
 
 
 
 The carving ready for sealing with Clear Satin water based Polycrylic.
The bright silver on the "metal" of the piece is not water-based so there will be no clear satin applied to it.

 
 
The finished piece

Now that's kinda cool!
 
If you want to see what this thing really looks like, click here: